From staff reports
Two Beaufort High students and a Holy Trinity student are among the 11 Beaufort County seniors named Heritage Classic Foundation scholars for the 2020-2021 school year. The students come from six different high schools.
Beaufort High seniors Abigail Chiaviello and Caleb Henry and Holy Trinity senior Elizabeth O’Neal join eight others – Karina Dorris (Bluffton High), Penelope Roman-Gomez (Bluffton High), Shelby Dorth (Hilton Head Christian Academy), Thomas Hughson (Hilton Head Island High), Joseph Hutchinson (Hilton Head Island High), Niklas Kronlein (Hilton Head Island High), Julia Kubec (Hilton Head Island High), Taylor Gilmore (May River High) – from a total of six high schools.
Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the annual Scholar luncheon was not held. The scholars received their awards by mail and met Heritage Classic Foundation Scholar Committee Chairman, Scott Richardson and other committee members during a video conference.
“This is always an exciting day for the Heritage Classic Foundation, even if we are just meeting virtually,” Richardson told the scholars. “Choosing the 11 students to receive these awards was a hard task. We believe your accomplishments should be rewarded and your teachers and administrators deserve special praise.”
Richardson also pointed out, “You are not just straight-A students. You are leaders in your schools, communities and churches. Your interests vary from music to sports to caring for the elderly.”
Beaufort’s Chiaviello is involved the Interact Club and is president of the French Honors Society. She has lettered in track and lacrosse. She spent her junior year in France as a Rotary Exchange student and is now a Rotary Youth Ambassador. Chiaviello credits the experience for awakening her passion for travel and studying the global community and its diversity.
Henry has been dedicated to the DECA and VEX Robotics Clubs at Beaufort High. He formed the school’s official robotics team and lead them to a top-five finish at the state championship. He is member of the Interact Club and was a Boy Scout that helped clean up Fort Fremont multiple times.
O’Neal, the Kirby Award recipient, is on the Senior Council at Holy Trinity Classical Christian School. The Council has organized spirit weeks and planned fundraisers. She takes photos for the yearbook and is passionate about competing on the debate team. She is active in her church and sings in the choir. She also volunteers at a local nursing home and has been humbled by the experience.
Six of the newly named Scholars will receive a $16,000 scholarship over the next four years, including the Scholar Alumni Award. Four additional awards carry a $20,000 opportunity.
A new scholarship was introduced. The Kirby Scholarship, a one-year, $3,000 scholar award, was created in memoriam of past Scholar Committee chairman Ward Kirby and will be granted every year moving forward.
Next fall, 41 Beaufort County collegians will be receiving Foundation grants at an expenditure of $178,000. A grand total of $4.63M will have been awarded to 353 students after the 2021 distribution.
In addition to these 11 scholarships, the Foundation is funding four $2,500 annual scholarships to the University of South Carolina Beaufort and two $1,500 annual scholarships to the Technical College of the Lowcountry.
